Column: Schuchart, Henderson & Axsom Can Breathe Easier: They’re In The ’24 Knoxville Nationals
News Director 
Column By: ALEX NIETEN / WORLD OF OUTLAWS – KNOXVILLE, IA – Logan Schuchart held on for second place on Hard Knocks Night Friday at the Knoxville Raceway and locked into his eighth consecutive Knoxville Nationals Championship Feature with Shark Racing.
The Hanover, PA native is no stranger to charging toward the front in the finale, and he’ll look to do so again from 22nd this year.
“It’s definitely a relieving feeling,” Schuchart said. “This whole week is so stressful. What it means for a driver to want to run for a Knoxville Nationals championship. We were so close to it last year, 10 laps to go running second to Kyle (Larson), and a little 50-cent piece of plastic took us out of the race.”
Rounding out the podium and clinching a spot in his sixth finale of “The Granddaddy of ‘Em All was Justin Henderson in the Forbrook No. 5X. The former podium finisher in the Championship Feature (2013) is eager for Saturday’s main event.
“Super happy to make the Feature,” Henderson said. “This is the Knoxville Nationals. It doesn’t get any bigger than this obviously. There’s more stress in this race right, I think, than in any other race.”
The final lock-in spot belonged to JETCO Rookie of the Year contender Emerson Axsom. The Indiana driver nearly won the 360 Nationals last weekend and now has secured a spot in the sport’s biggest race.
“We made the Knoxville Nationals,” Axsom said. “My stuff is really good. I feel like I was making really good laps there trailing Logan. I was surprised that Justin was able to sneak back by us. I feel like we were making solid laps, so it surprised me to see his nose down there. I’m really happy with it, but I guess it hasn’t really sunk in yet.”
Lynton Jeffrey completed the top five. A 22nd to 12th run earned Parker Price-Miller the KSE Racing Hard Charger. Donny Schatz earned the Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying.
Your Life Iowa Heats One, Three, Four, Five, and Six belonged to Tanner Holmes, Kaleb Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Cole Macedo, and Cale Thomas. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Austin McCarl.
Chris Windom and Ayrton Gennetten won the two Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdowns. The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Austin McCarl.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars wrap up the 63rd running of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s with Championship Night on Saturday, August 10 with $190,000 going to the winner.
